Welcome to Errol Morris Week, a celebration of the legendary director and his work. This is the first of his six shorts for ESPN Films. It’s about electric football, a basement league, and the gang of glorious eccentrics who keep a decades-long tradition alive.

Who Is the NHL’s Biggest Dirtbag (of All Time)?

Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta remains suspended this week, ineligible to return to action until next Sunday after his dangerous hit from behind on Brad Richards. The incident led to renewed debate over whether Kaleta now deserves the title of the NHL’s most despicable player.

There’s not exactly a shortage of competition. Whether it’s Matt Cooke, Raffi Torres, or Daniel Carcillo, there are plenty of players these days who can leave fans tearing their hair out. Whether you’d prefer to call them agitators, pests, flat-out dirty, or just stains on the game, chances are you’re not alone in screaming at your TV whenever their smirking faces appear.

But this post isn’t about them. After all, each of today’s NHL villains is simply following in the footsteps of those who came before them. So today, let’s pay tribute to the previous generation. These 10 players may no longer be in the NHL, but their legacies helped lay the groundwork for players like Patrick Kaleta, who make the game what it is today.

Ken Linseman

Crimes against humanity: His nickname was “The Rat,” which pretty much tells you all you need to know. Faced court charges for kicking an opponent in the head during his junior career. Gouged eyes. Speared groins. Spit on guys. Every hockey fan who’s ever tried to write his name has originally typed “Linesman” and then had to go back and change it.

Redeeming qualities: Was actually a pretty decent player when he wasn’t being a rat. Was kind enough to play during the ’80s, when being a pest would occasionally have consequences.

Legacy: Is often credited with being the NHL’s first true agitator, so you can go ahead and blame him for everything you’ve hated about hockey over the last 30 years.

Esa Tikkanen

Crimes against humanity: Was arguably the best “shadow” in hockey history, meaning he specialized in following the other team’s best players around and annoying them instead of playing actual hockey. Constantly spoke some sort of indecipherable language that made other players want to murder him. If that didn’t work, would also occasionally try to kiss them.

Redeeming qualities: Won five Stanley Cups, proving that the hockey gods hate us.

Legacy: Scientists hope to someday develop a supercomputer powerful enough to figure out what it is he was saying all those years.

Redeeming qualities: His hit on Peca was technically clean, though it did force the NHL to change the rules. The bench-dive thing was pretty funny.

In hindsight: Has been out of the NHL for three years, which is why it’s always fun to remind Leaf fans that he’s still on their salary cap until 2014.

Pat Verbeek

Crimes against humanity: He was a ridiculously tiny pest who was in the middle of every scrum ever, even if his team wasn’t playing that night. Was the sort of player who’d cause announcers to casually say things like “Somebody’s going to get Verbeek before this thing is over” during brawls. Never let a little thing like the fact that a game was a meaningless preseason contest keep him from slashing someone in the head. May or may not have intentionally sliced Rod Langway with his skate.

Redeeming qualities: Managed 1,000 career points. Was nicknamed “The Little Ball of Hate,” which is fantastic.

Redeeming qualities: Actually fought pretty often and was terrible at it, so if you wanted to see him get beat up you probably didn’t have to wait long.

Legacy: Gave Sabre fans valuable practice at defending the indefensible, which they are using now.

Dale Hunter

Crimes against humanity: Threw one of the most famous cheap shots in NHL history, which got him suspended for 21 games. Also threw this elbow, which — if it happened today — would have gotten him suspended for 31 games. And he delivered this hit, which — if it happened today — would have gotten him suspended for a billionty games.

Redeeming qualities: Had the second most PIM in league history, but still managed 1,000 career points.

Legacy: Recently had to coach the Washington Capitals for almost an entire season, so at this point, we can probably say he’s suffered enough.

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